Step back in time.........Muhammad Ali versus Henry Cooper

Props to Ali for being in the right era t the right time to avoid the KO loss there, and for ending it in the 5th. With an extra 20 seconds and with a modern day ref, that fight almost assuredly would've been stopped once he was knocked down and was out on his feet.

 

he probably would NOT have been TKO'd

but you're right, in this case it was overboard. I think that a difference must be made though between cheating and commiting a foul. In this case, if its true, it was cheating. But it doesn't mean that it had any bearing on the final result

for the record i do not think cheating is good, but i do think that when a fighter is able to commit fouls in the ring without getting points deducted, that is good, and to the credit of the fighter.

 

:yep

 

I agree. Ali demonstrated GREAT recuperative powers and an iron chin throughout his career. Even if the rest period had been just the standard 1 minute, I think he would have weathered the storm. People make an unjustified leap, imo, in assuming he would have been stopped. His entire career would suggest otherwise.

 

Henry who?

 

So... he's the British equivalent to Chuck Wepner?

 

Very well... but Chuck Wepner lasted much longer against Muhammad Ali than Cooper did.

 

I don't feel Cooper will be very successful against HW ATG's and even HW elite's from the different era's. Cooper was more or less a fringe contender.

 

Now that is spot on John, Cooper was definitley a better skilled and more talented fighter than Wepner, it's comparable by way of rank, but not by ability. Wepner was essentially a journeyman, I find it difficult to gain him a good 'gate keeper' title.

Though I think Cooper belongs in the same fringe contender ranking as like a Corrie Sanders.

 

Hello Moralman from a respectful USA citizen in California. Thanks for that link. Cooper put in some real nice combos and had some fast hands, especially when you take into consideration who he was fighting that night back in 63'. Too bad he got cut up so bad.

Up until a few months ago I had never seen the fight, but would hear from all types how Cooper got robbed because Ali got so much extra time with the glove incedent. I remember one guy said it was something like an extra 90 seconds!! Out of curiosity I timed the break between rounds and came up with 63 seconds. Today I timed your link once and came up with 64 seconds, which hardly seems like a major infraction considering how often timekeepers have screwed up over the years. Seeing how Clay came out like gangbusters from the get go in round 5, I do not think anything of significance was gained by Clay with thos few extra seconds.

I have not examined the footage too well, but does it show that Clay actually gets his glove cut? Also, does he actually have his glove changed? That seems like a very fast "tire change" if he did. Those guys should be working in a pit crew somewhere